Woman Claims She Was Kicked Off From Flight For Excessive Loo Use

A Canadian passenger claims she was removed from a WestJet flight departing Mexico due to "excessive" use of the restroom before takeoff. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, has sparked debate about airline safety protocols and passenger rights amid ongoing health concerns.

Joanna Chiu, the passenger in question, took to social media to share her experience, stating that she had been using the restroom multiple times due to an upset stomach but was "on the mend" thanks to medication. Despite this, she alleges she was approached by airline staff and asked to disembark the plane without any alternative solutions offered.

Woman Claimed To Be Kicked-Off From Flight For Excessive Use Of Loo

Exposing Mexico WestJet flight and its attendees, Chiu took it to her X (Formerly Twitter) handle on February 10 to share her subjugating experience with the air staff and being treated insensitively before even taking off. 

In a thread post, Chiu warned people sharing her ordeal as she wrote "Just got kicked off a @WestJet flight from Mexico because I had an upset stomach and was going to the washroom too much before takeoff. No promise of a hotel or rebooked flight. I had meds and was on the mend. Some customer service." 

And that was not just it, Chiu also shared that when she accidentally left her wallet and purse behind in the rush of getting off the flight as she was asked to get off before even the takeoff, she shared how she asked a flight supervisor to pay for her cab to a hotel just 20 minutes away as she forgot her wallet to which he not only refused but also gave Chiu hard time trying to intimidate her by calling up the guards. 

It was only when Chiu broke down into tears she was attended rightfully by the guard, acknowledging that the "WestJet dude was an a**hole." Chiu also claimed she filmed her bitter exchange with the WestJet supervisor which she was asked to delete with the warning she would only get to aboard a flight tomorrow if she deleted the video.

To seek her booking reference for the details of her rebooked flight, Chiu was treated a little politely by another employee but was not given the booking reference, asking Chiu to visit the airport the next day to receive the details of her rebooked flight. 

Chiu expressed she was a little frustrated when she only received her booking reference when she called out the airlines on social media as they Dm'd her and she was not attended rightfully when she was asking for the same from the customer support at the airport. Chiu also shared that she was afraid to be getting arrested so she just chose to get out of the airport. 

WestJet, in response to the incident, emphasized its commitment to passenger safety and the right to deny boarding to those deemed unfit to fly due to illness. They further clarified that such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis following established protocols.

Internet Reacts

Public reaction to the incident has been divided. Some individuals expressed support for the airline's stance, prioritizing safety, especially during the pandemic. Others questioned the passenger's account and raised concerns about the potential for such policies to be misused or lack of sensitivity towards passengers with genuine medical needs.

A shocked user under the tread commented "What the heck! How many times does going to the washroom get you the boot?" while another outraged user wrote: "This is outrageous. That's what the onboard toilet is there for!"

However, some also appreciated the crew's swift decision as they wrote: "Sounds like this problem could have resulted in the passenger needing to occupy the lavatory for the entire return flight, or at times when 'in-seat' is [required] for safety. Good call, poorly communicated."

Read the thread here:

Just got kicked off a @WestJet flight from Mexico because I had an upset stomach and was going to the washroom too much before takeoff. No promise of a hotel or rebooked flight. I had meds and was on the mend. Some customer service.

If you’re sick before a flight, hold it in…

— Joanna Chiu (@joannachiu) February 10, 2024